FIRST READING
Hosea 11:1-4, 8e-9
Thus says the LORD:
When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the farther they went from me, Sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms; I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks; Yet, though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer.
My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; For I am God and not man, the Holy One present among you; I will not let the flames consume you.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16
R. (4b) Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken. From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth. Rouse your power.
R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts, look down from heaven, and see: Take care of this vine, and protect what your right hand has planted, the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
ALLELUIA
Mark 1:15
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Matthew 10:7-15
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your wordsB go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
REFLECTIONS:
Do you believe that the gospel has power to change
your life and the lives of others? Jesus gave his disciples a two-fold
commission to speak in his name and to act with his power. The core of
the gospel message is quite simple: the kingdom (or reign) of God is
imminent! What is the kingdom of God? It is that society of men and
women who freely submit to God and who honor him as their Lord and King.
In the Lords prayer we pray for God to reign in our lives and in our world:
May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Jesus also commissioned his disciples to carry on the works which he did
bringing the healing power of God to the weary and oppressed. The gospel
has power to set people free from sin, sickness, fear, and oppression.
The Lord will free us from anything that keeps us from loving him and our
neighbor with joy and confidence.
Jesus said to his disciples: Freely you have received, freely give.
What they have received from Jesus they must now pass on to others without
expecting a favor in return, whether it be in form of a gift or payment.
They must show by their attitude that their first interest is in serving
God, not receiving material gain. They must serve without guile, full of
charity and peace, and simplicity. They must give their full attention
to the proclamation of Gods kingdom and not be diverted by other lesser
things. They must travel light only take what was essential and
leave behind whatever would distract them in order to concentrate on
the task of speaking the word of the God. They must do their work, not
for what they can get out of it, but for what they can give freely to others,
without expecting special privileges or reward. Poverty of spirit
frees us from greed and preoccupation with possessions and makes ample
room for Gods provision. The Lord wants his disciples to be dependent
on him and not on themselves.
Secondly, Jesus said: the worker deserves his sustenance. Here
we see a double-truth: the worker of God must not be overly-concerned with
material things, but the people of God must never fail in their duty to
give the worker of God what he or she needs to sustain themselves in the
Lord's service. Do you pray for the work of the gospel and do you support
it with your material and financial resources? Jesus ends his instructions
with a warning: If people reject Gods invitation and refuse his word,
then they bring judgment and condemnation on themselves. When God gives
us his word there comes with it the great responsibility to respond.
Indifference will not do. We are either for or against God in how we respond
to his word. God gives us his word that we may have life abundant life
in him. He wills to work in and through each of us for his glory.
God shares his word with us and he commissions us to speak it boldly and
simply to others. Do you witness the truth and joy of the gospel by word
and example to those around you?
Lord Jesus, may the joy and truth of the gospel transform my life that
I may witness it to those around me. Grant that I may spread your truth
and your light wherever I go.
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